Leaving aside comfort, safety, and the fact that he won, how effective is this technique? If the clip is running in real-time, he appears to be doing very roughly 120 RPM (perhaps someone can come up with a more accurate RPM figure), which is not that close to what I think would be spun out. Might he not be able to produce enough more power if in the saddle to more than make up for the aero reduction? Either that, or just not pedal?

The article where I found the GIF quoted a study stating that one could save 30 seconds on a 5km descent at -10% on the top tube vs in the saddle in the drops, or (up to) ~25% reduction in CdA. His position may have indeed helped him gain a few precious seconds, but the pedaling appears to just be his own eccentricity or fruitless attempt at more speed.

Pedalling negates the drag of the freewheeling hub. So he might be faster like this.I tried it today. I felt very unstable (at around 40kph), but could pedal surprisingly well. But I think I'd get cramps straightaway if I tried this in a race.

He could have also been doing it to keep the legs & fluids moving, avoiding acid build up.I certainly soft pedal down some prolonged steep slopes when its well into a long ride and I still have a ways to go. It helps my muscles even though there is no speed benefit (there may even be more of a drag because I'm not keeping my legs still at the 6-9 positions)

One day though, I want to build a fixie (no brakes) with powercranks and eggbeater pedals, then leave it unlocked at the top of a steep hill.I will find the thief either dead, injured, or crying within a few blocks.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, 28, from Plymouth, who won last year’s Tour of Britain, has received a letter from the UCI, cycling’s governing body, after the discovery of irregular variations dating back to September 2012, three months before he joined Team Sky. He has three weeks to provide an explanation.

The variations do not mean Tiernan-Locke is guilty of doping or any other illegal practice. However, the biological passport, in which they were detected, is regarded as a key tool in helping authorities uncover the use of banned substances.

It is believed the suspicious values relate to the final four months of last year, when Tiernan-Locke was riding for Endura...

We have no doubts over his performance, behaviour or tests at Team Sky and understand any anomaly is in readings taken before he joined the team. Team Sky has tried to respect what should be a confidential process, allowing the rider to explain in private, without prejudice, and the anti-doping authorities to do their valuable job.

Very good point - confidentiality of the rider should remain until any further action is taken. "Innocent until possible discrepancy is detected" is not really that fair.

Anyway, more importantly, with rain forecast today i have absolutely no idea who's going to win, but i think it'll be fast and hard from early on. Switzerland actually have a strong team but i think a small group of "unmarked" riders will fight it out at the end. £5 on Daniel Moreno...

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